(no subject)
The Eye of the Snake
In which the chapter is loooong.
* More Fred and George ignoring Prefect!Ron.
More emphasis of Umbridge wearing the Colour We Do Not Speak Of.
* Hermione returned from Hagrid's just before lunch, shivering slightly, her robes damp to the knees.
Heh.
* She pulled out her wand and gave it a complicated little wave so that hot air streamed out of the tip; she then pointed this at her robes, which began to steam as they dried out.
There’s about six mentions in this chapter and the last about Hermione and her weather charms. Huh.
* Harry groaned. The Forbidden Forest was teeming with the kind of creatures most likely to get Hagrid the sack.
I love the wording of this. Damn creatures, ruining Hagrid’s reputation by existing and being inadequately trained by him!
You know what’s going to get Hagrid the sack, should my wildest dreams occur and he did? Not creatures, not students, not prejudice that OMG he’z a half-giant!11 It would be Hagrid himself.
* 'I tried to explain about Umbridge, but he just doesn't get it. …I don't think he's got a Chimera,' she added at the appalled look on Harry and Ron's faces, 'but that's not for lack of trying, from what he said about how hard it is to get eggs. I don't know how many times I told him he'd be better off following Grubbly-Plank's plan, I honestly don't think he listened to half of what I said. He's in a bit of a funny mood, you know. He still won't say how he got all those injuries.'
Hermione talks about Hagrid a little bit as if he’s a kid. Which isn’t far off the mark.
There’s something a bit creepily childish about him - the way he can’t keep a secret, the way he cries easily and often, sometimes drowning his sorrows, the way he hoards and hides things badly, like a toddler does, and the way he won’t or can’t understand reason. Even his reactions are immature - he becomes defensive, angry and flusters, and can’t conceal it at all.
There’s never any awareness from him that he has responsibilities and is the authority figure in a lesson. He panics. He asks his students for help. He sinks to childrens’ levels (the tail on Dudley, for example.) He (and to be fair, this is a trait shared by a lot of his house members) has no understanding of rules which serve to protect others.
(I was rather irritated to see on one of the other recent readthroughs, from a poster who usually offers insightful comments, that ‘people…seem to take an elderly aunt's perspective on "rulebreaking" in the HP books.’ Again, to be fair, this is a criticism offered previously by others - if you don’t agree with the way the rules operate, or rather don’t, in HP, you must adore authority and discipline (and not in a kinky sense ;) or else demand that fictional characters keep to strict guidelines and never have any fun or do anything wrong. Nope. Me? Not so much a rule-follower, never have been. I don’t have high moral standards for the characters I prefer - hello, Slytherin fan.
I do like internal consistency in books, however. If I see rulebreaking punished in one situation, seeing it rewarded in the next gives me no sense of the moral guidelines of this particular universe.
Not to mention, the whole Anarchy! Down with Rules!11 theme is both incredibly tired (I guess that’s why the books are aimed at kids!) and more than a little hypocritical, considering that both the positive characters, and indeed, members of the fandom, believe in never questioning most authority figures; not to mention on a meta-level, the author.)
I mean, god forbid I say this, but some rules are *gasp* useful. And meant to help, not hinder. Like laws banning, I don't know, murder?
And it's always the people who criticise any form of government who are first to accept favours from it once the bias is favourable to them, and expect the law to protect them.
Heh, that's what I dislike about these books. I end up defending people and things I don't actually agree with, like conservatives, racists and bureaucracy just because the treatment of them is so one-sided, biased and simplistic.
* Hagrid's reappearance at the staff table…was not greeted by enthusiasm from all students. Some, like Fred, George and Lee, roared with delight and sprinted up the aisle…to wring Hagrid's enormous hand; others, like Parvati and Lavender, exchanged gloomy looks and shook their heads.
Harry knew that many of them preferred Professor Grubbly-Plank's lessons, and the worst of it was that a very small, unbiased part of him knew that they had good reason: Grubbly-Plank's idea of an interesting class was not one where there was a risk that somebody might have their head ripped off.
…
It was with apprehension that Harry, Ron and Hermione headed down to Hagrid's…
…
He did not present a reassuring sight…
…
As though to complete the ominous picture…
Hee! I will say this - I like that the characters in OotP are slightly more ambigous.
We can see actual reasons why people might dislike the Trio or Hagrid (even though the only ones canonically presented are still ‘OMG they r just jellus/racist/evol!11’) and there are even *gasp* people who disagree with them. Including each other, albeit rarely!
Even Harry, Hermione and Ron are aware of Hagrid’s failings as a teacher, for example.
Someone explain to me why Grubbly-Plank doesn’t get the job of CoMC teacher, anyway? Stupid Dumbledore.
Or, for that matter, why Fred, George and Lee could care less about Hagrid? I suppose because they're 'cool' and 'good'. Or maybe because they get to mess around more in his lessons.
* Harry was worried, not only about what Hagrid might have decided to teach them, but also about how the rest of the class, particularly Malfoy and his cronies, would behave if Umbridge was watching them.
The pathetic thing is that Draco and co. never even lie or make much effort to make Hagrid look bad - apparently they have no need to. (Heh, this reminds me of PoA when Harry’s all ‘Malfoy had done his very best to get Hagrid sacked the previous year.’ That’s his best? For real? That’s pretty bad. Lucius didn’t even come up to the school. Way to be ineffectual in your Evil Campaign, all his father did was demand that Hagrid’s animal be destroyed - I don’t think Hagrid himself was even mentioned.)
Basically what Harry is afraid of here is that the truth, which is unflattering, will come out.
Much like the earlier scene, where he frets over Malfoy “telling tales” about Hagrid, neglecting to note that if Hagrid were competent, there’d be no tales to tell.
* 'What prefers the dark?' Harry heard Malfoy say sharply to Crabbe and Goyle, a trace of panic in his voice. 'What did he say prefers the dark - did you hear?'
Malfoy has many, many faults, but I'll say this for him: he appears to have the opposite attitude to Harry when it comes to repeating dangerous confrontations with teachers/classes.
None of that 'battle of wills' bit - he avoids Moody to the point of phobia, and he apparently isn't willing to get caught being 'too stupid to listen' to Hagrid again.
* Harry remembered the only other occasion on which Malfoy had entered the Forest before now; he had not been very brave then, either.
Huh? What does Harry remember of his own reaction, then?
Was being 'unable to move' from fear liek, totally macho?
Or rather, Harry concealed his feelings. Which is the proper way to do things. Bottle, bottle, bottle. Be a man!
* He smiled to himself; after the Quidditch match anything that caused Malfoy discomfort was all right with him.
Heh. Love that ‘after’ qualifier, as if he’d never usually lower himself to being so malicious.
It reminds me of a line in PoA *digs*:
“The enmity between Harry and Malfoy was at its highest point ever.
Malfoy was still smarting about the mud-throwing incident in Hogsmeade, and even more furious that Harry had somehow wormed his way out of punishment.
Harry hadn't forgotten Malfoy's attempt to sabotage him in the match against Ravenclaw, but it was the matter of Buckbeak that made him most determined to beat Malfoy in front of the entire school.”
Hee! Like, usually they’re calm, sportsmanlike boys, but now they’re pissed off and competitive!
Of course, at least in PoA, there’s a motive ascribed to Malfoy, also, and a fairly reasonable one, unlike now.
So far, we have recalling of the Buckbeak incident and the Forbidden Forest; but Malfoy himself, appears to have completely forgotten, say, the train hexing. Or the Quidditch fight.
Basically, both Malfoy and Harry can remember events in which either Draco or a teacher screws up, but Harry's part in any events is almost never discussed, since, you know, it's not a flattering side to him.
I'd also love to hear him describing said match, because to me, the wording suggests that he remembers himself as being victimised - Malfoy hasn't been discomforted enough, or his discomfort should match Harry's.
* Lots of suddenly!friendly!Hagrid this chapter, even greeting Umbridge politely (here’s a sample of adjectives used to describe him: cheerfully, encouraged, happily, chuckling, smiling, brightly, beaming, patiently.) I guess to contrast with Umbridge and assert that while his teaching skills are doubtful, his heart’s in the right place. Or something.
Me, I can’t find one single lesson previously in which Hagrid made any effort with a student outside the Trio, so all this ‘Look at Professor Hagrid, isn’t he nice, he loves you all!’ spin chafes a little, but whatever.
* 'Right, well, I've bin savin' a trip inter the Forest fer yer fifth year…’
For a treat or because the creatures are unsuitable for younger students?
* 'And you're sure they're trained, are you?' said Malfoy, the panic in his voice even more pronounced. 'Only it wouldn't be the first time you'd brought wild stuff to class, would it?'
The Slytherins murmured agreement and a few Gryffindors looked as though they thought Malfoy had a fair point, too.
Wow. Even the Gryffindors? *gains small amount of respect for that house as a whole*
* 'Course they're trained,' said Hagrid, scowling…
'So what happened to your face, then?' demanded Malfoy.
'Mind yer own business!' said Hagrid, angrily. 'Now, if yeh've finished askin' stupid questions, follow me!'
Heh. Hagrid’s so defensive about his teaching skills, considering he has none.
Seriously, though, his massive self-delusion is actually kind of creepy. He’s gone from hysterical doubt of himself in PoA to genuinely believing that his animals are harmless, and that ‘no-one in their right mind (would prefer safe ones)’, even in the face of some pretty over-whelming evidence. He doesn’t even listen to the Trio anymore.
Also, the ‘mind your business’ is fairly repressive, considering that restriction over what students know is part of the reason Umbridge is so Evil!!11!!! (Also, she implies people are ‘stupid’. And she can’t/won’t answer basic questions about class plans. Or to quote a comparison:
Hagrid opened his mouth, apparently thinking hard; there was a few seconds' pause, then he said roughly, "Tha's next lesson.”)
* Nobody seemed much disposed to follow. Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione, who sighed but nodded, and the three of them set off after Hagrid, leading the rest of the class.
God knows why the rest of the class follows (strike! ;) If all of them stayed put, Hagrid couldn’t do much) but more puncturing of the ‘Trio are underdogs and unpopular in their classes’ myth. They lead, others follow.
* Parvati is very scared of the Thestrals. Presumably because she’s so silly. Hermione, in contrast, is of course, unruffled and fascinated.
* 'Don' worry, it won' hurt yeh,' said Hagrid.
‘Might take a bit outta yeh if yeh really annoy them’, though. That’s not real hurt, though, is it? Besides, it’s only Parvati, she’s not even close to the Trio. Who cares?
* ‘The only people who can see Thestrals,' she said, 'are people who have seen death.'
So…um. What is the point of this lesson? I mean, far be it for me to question Hagrid’s wisdom, and much as the Thestrals sound ‘useful’, why dedicate classtime to creatures that can’t be observed by the vast majority of the class, and only get used twice a year, anyway?
* Hagrid, who had never heard Umbridge's fake cough before, was gazing in some concern at the closest Thestral, evidently under the impression that it had made the sound.
Heh!
* 'You received the note I sent to your cabin this morning?' said Umbridge, in the same loud, slow voice she had used with him earlier, as though she were addressing somebody both foreign and very slow.
OMG. How very racist. I bet Hagrid would never condescend to foreign people.
* 'Well, as you can see - or, I dunno - can you?'
Can she?
* Umbridge’s miming made me laugh. I’m going to hell.
* Draco Malfoy looked as though Christmas had come a month early;
Wow. So Malfoy’s revelling in other’s ‘discomfort’ here? That’s pretty low. For shame!
Indeed, should, say, Snape be inspected, I imagine Harry would demonstrate the correct way to behave; with no joy whatsoever.
* ‘…Name o' Tenebrus, he's my special favourite, firs' one born here in the Forest -'
Tenebrous means ‘dark and gloomy’.
* 'Are you aware,' Umbridge said loudly, interrupting him, 'that the Ministry of Magic has classified Thestrals as "dangerous"?'
Harry's heart sank like a stone, but Hagrid merely chuckled. ‘Thestrals aren' dangerous! All righ', they might take a bite outta yeh if yeh really annoy them -'
'Shows…signs…of…pleasure…at…idea…of…violence,' muttered Umbridge, scribbling on her clipboard again.
'No - come on!' said Hagrid, looking a little anxious now. 'I mean, a dog'll bite if yeh bait it, won' it -’
Ugh. Shades of Buckbeak all over again. Does Hagrid even know what happens to dogs in the Muggle world that bite seriously, regardless of baiting? Cause it’s pretty similar to the result of the trial in PoA.
And I’d love to know Hagrid (or indeed, JKR’s) definition of ‘baiting’.
How on earth do you know if you’ve ‘annoy’ed something you can’t see? Not to mention, all the responsibility to behave in this situation is, again, placed on the students’ shoulders, whereas the animals and Hagrid are free to run amok.
Plus, since Hagrid ‘reckon(s) (he’s) probably the on'y person in Britain who's managed ter train 'em', it’s doesn’t appear that they are very safe for students to be around.
* ‘…but Thestrals have jus' got a bad reputation because o' the death thing - people used ter think they were bad omens, didn' they? Jus' didn' understand, did they?'
Aw. It’s like a thinly veiled racism metaphor, about how people mistrust what they don’t understand! Yay, we haven’t had one of those for about a chapter.
I would have thought Thestrals have a bad reputation also for being um, dangerous; not to mention invisible and yes, associated with death.
* Hermione, on the other hand, had turned scarlet with suppressed rage…
…
Hermione actually shaking with fury…
…
Hermione had tears of fury in her eyes now. 'You hag, you evil hag!' she whispered, as Umbridge walked towards Pansy Parkinson. 'I know what you're doing, you awful, twisted, vicious -'
Hermione’s reaction here, I think, is motivated by her personal resentment of Umbridge as much as her loyalty to Hagrid, I think - considering Harry and Ron remain calm (odd in itself) and that Hermione actually criticises Hagrid with more frequency than the boys. Maybe even some identification with Hagrid as one of The Oppressed People that Never Seem to Suffer From Much/Any Um…Oppression.
* 'Do you find,' said Professor Umbridge in a ringing voice to Pansy Parkinson, 'that you are able to understand Professor Hagrid when he talks?'
Pansy had tears in her eyes, but these were tears of laughter; indeed, her answer was almost incoherent because she was trying to suppress her giggles. 'No…because…well…it sounds…like grunting a lot of the time.’
The unbruised bit of Hagrid's face flushed, but he tried to act as though he had not heard Pansy's answer.
Burn. And Hagrid tried so hard to impress her and her fellow house members, and more importantly, guarantee them a good education. Pansy, how can you throw that in his face?! Heh. This would be like Snape blushing to find out that the Trio don’t think well of him - shock, horror! Dude, if you want students to like you, make an effort.
I actually think Pansy and many of the other students wouldn’t be able to understand Hagrid very well - I can hardly decipher his speech/accent, and it’s written down! - or feel confident in asking him questions seriously, given his defensive reactions and dismissive attitude. And the fact he doesn’t actually seem to know much about his subject.
* 'Er…yeah…good stuff abou' Thestrals. Well, once they're tamed, like this lot, yeh'll never be lost again. 'Mazin' sense o' direction, jus' tell 'em where yeh want ter go -'
And we have exposition for the end chapter. Heh, there’s really no need for anyone else to attend classes, as long as Harry gets the Important Information he requires. And sometimes Neville gets extra attention, since he’s very nearly a VIP too.
* 'Assuming they can understand you, of course,' said Malfoy loudly, and Pansy Parkinson collapsed in a fit of renewed giggles.
Professor Umbridge smiled indulgently at them…
Uh oh. Apparent favouritism in Hogwarts, and it’s directed towards the wrong group!
Also, it appears that the Thestrals do understand English, like Hippogryffs. What’s up with that? Can they also do differentiate between tone and intent? What about other languages?
* 'You can see the Thestrals, Longbottom, can you?' she said.
Neville nodded.
'Who did you see die?' she asked, her tone indifferent.
She doesn’t “sound sorry at all”. There’s not “the slightest sign that the (death Neville’s witnessed) might be a painful topic”. Outrageous!
I can’t wait til the relative of someone ‘bad’ inevitably dies. I’m sure we’ll see sympathy and sensitivity doled out to them by the bucket-load. One day someone will explain to me why random people should be moved by the tragic plights of strangers Harry/Neville those brave woobies!11, especially when neither of them appear overtly compassionate themselves, but whatever.
* 'Erm,' said Neville nervously, with a glance at Hagrid. ‘Well, they're…er…OK…’
'Students…are…too…intimidated…to…admit…they…are…frightened,' muttered Umbridge, making another note on her clipboard.
'No!' said Neville, looking upset. 'No, I'm not scared of them!'
All the males here (Neville, Harry, Ron, Hagrid) appear confused as to why Umbridge is condescending to Hagrid. Clearly, only Hermione, as a fellow female, can understand the depths to which we’ll sink, and how cunning and cruel our evil manipulations can be, blah blah sexistgeneralizationcakes.
I thought Neville was more scared of letting down Hagrid, here, since it would piss off a lot of his house - Harry, for example, doesn’t hesitate in fighting with his best friends over Hagrid (and Sirius) and I’m sure Neville isn’t silly enough to think that, should he not appear fond of Hagrid, that Harry wouldn’t be rather angry.
* 'It's quite all right,' said Umbridge, patting Neville on the shoulder with what she evidently intended to be an understanding smile, though it looked more like a leer to Harry.
Wow. So Umbridge sucks for not acting sympathetic, and then for acting too sympathetic.
* ‘That foul, lying, twisting old gargoyle!' stormed Hermione… 'You see what she's up to?’
If you don’t, JKR will very carefully explain it to you, here!
* ‘It's her thing about half-breeds all over again - she's trying to make out Hagrid's some kind of dimwitted troll, just because he had a giantess for a mother’
So why did she treat (the presumably pureblooded) Trelawney similiarly?
I kind of have a problem with Hagrid’s half-giant status, anyway, in that it was never mentioned until GoF.
I mean, I’m sure JKR had it planned and everything, but you’d think, oh I don’t know, it might be mentioned when he got carted off to Azkaban, or as a contributory reason for his expulsion: everyone was willing to believe the worst of a ‘half-breed’.
JKR spent four books on Hagrid and his sometimes dubious behaviour, and then suddenly people disliking him becomes Teh Prejudice. It’s like suddenly announcing Pansy Parkinson or someone was Muggleborn and expecting us to think that any hatred for her is down to that, rather than her being obnoxious for five years.
* ‘it's not fair, that really wasn't a bad lesson at all - I mean, all right, if it had been Blast-Ended Skrewts again, but Thestrals are fine - in fact, for Hagrid, they're really good!'
'Umbridge said they're dangerous,' said Ron.
Can't help but see this as a bit of projection from Hermione - Everyone who ever criticises me poor oppressed Hagrid/Lupin/Kreacher, even over issues unrelated to our races is liek totally being prejudiced. Hence we are never responsible for any of our actions!
I shall ignore that making wild exceptions for people/creatures based on pity for them and treating them like animals who can't control themselves is actually just as offensive.
Interesting that Hermione shows she has different, lower standards for Hagrid, or conversely, higher standards for other, non-Order teachers: a lesson that would be “fine” for say, G-P to teach, is “really good” for Hagrid.
And the part about “all right, if it had been…Skrewts again”, as if, should that have been the lesson, Hermione would have had to yield to logic cracks me up. If it had been Skrewts, the situation would have been identical, and Hermione would be saying “All right, if it had been Hippogryffs, but…” And of course, if it had been Hippogryffs again, it would still end up being someone else’s fault, as it always is.
Not to mention, once again, the Trio identifies Skrewts as the most dangerous animals. Presumably because they actually hurt their own house members, rather than canon fodder, who deserve it.
Also, I like Ron’s interjection. I get the impression he'd lost/would lose sympathy for Hagrid the quickest.
Ron's the one who got bit by Norbert in PS (and a serious enough bite that he was hospitalised), Ron's the one who has that really great line in CoS about Hagrid's not being “innocent” because of hatching Aragog, and Ron's the one who's absent throughout most of the Hagrid-heavy adventures: Buckbeak and Grawp.
* 'Well, it's like Hagrid said, they can look after themselves,' said Hermione impatiently, 'and I suppose a teacher like Grubbly-Plank wouldn't usually show them to us before NEWT level, but, well, they are very interesting, aren't they? I wish I could (see them).'
Hee. Like Crabbe and Goyle can “look after themselves”?
Hermione appears to be missing the point, which is that the animals don’t need to be looked after, the kids do, and much as they all bridle at being treated like children and insist how adult they are; they’re still in the care of the school, which the frigging teachers need to realise.
Not to mention, since Hermione gets her precious lessons in dangerous and interesting creatures/magic, she doesn’t particularly mind how suitable the lessons are or who gets harmed by them. This reminds me of the earlier rationale offered by Dean about Moody, and how “He turned out to be a maniac…(but at least) we learned loads!” which is so far past the point, that the point is but a dot.
* 'Do you?' Harry asked her quietly.
She looked suddenly horrorstruck. 'Oh, Harry - I'm sorry - no, of course I don't - that was a really stupid thing to say.'
'It's OK,' he said quickly, 'don't worry.'
Ugh. If it’s okay, why bring it up? So you can do the quiet, tortured bit and once again, attempt to emotionally crowbar people into apologising to you for the horror that is your life? Shut up, Harry.
That is a really stupid thing to say, though. And I predict that by the end of the series, Hermione will be able to see the Thestrals, and not too happy about this.
* ‘I’m surprised so many people could see them,' said Ron. ‘Three in a class -'
Heh. Twice now, Nott has been referred to, and each time, Malfoy interrupts. No mentioning other Slytherins on his airtime!
* 'Yeah, Weasley, we were just wondering,' said a malicious voice. Unheard by any of them in the muffling snow, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were walking along right behind them. 'D'you reckon if you saw someone snuff it you'd be able to see the Quaffle better?'
Why doesn’t Ron just ask whether Malfoy seeing someone die would help him spot the Snitch?
What happened to Hermione and Harry’s Quick!Not!Wit retorts, anyway?
* He, Crabbe and Goyle roared with laughter as they pushed past on their way to the castle, then broke into a chorus of 'Weasley is our King'.
Crabbe and Goyle singing?! That’s something I’d like to hear!
* ('And they're cheeky little snot-rags, you know, we definitely weren't that rude when we were in first year,' said Ron) and to patrol the corridors in shifts with Argus Filch, who suspected that the holiday spirit might show itself in an outbreak of wizard duels ('He's got dung for brains, that one,' said Ron furiously).
Heh. I remember being at school and saying the same thing. Kids today, I don’t know… ;)
I don’t know about how stupid Filch is. He might be off about the date, but there’s a few student fights/injuries coming, iirc.
Atdelphi wrote an interesting essay about Filch, touching on, among other things, Ron’s reaction to him.
* Between his Quidditch ban and worry about whether or not Hagrid was going to be put on probation, he felt highly resentful towards the place at the moment.
Stupid place, forcing Ever So Special Harry and his friends to have to deal with the consequences of their actions!
* Sirius had not contacted Harry at all since his last appearance…he did not like to think of Sirius alone in his mother's old house, perhaps pulling a lonely cracker with Kreacher.
Sirius is such a little bitch.
I’m actually surprised that Harry appears to want to stay at the Burrow over seeing his godfather, though - why doesn’t he contact Sirius and ask him what he’s doing for Christmas? Or stay there instead?
* Harry had only just managed to get the last of them down before the door creaked open and Luna Lovegood entered, looking as dreamy as usual. 'Hello,' she said vaguely, looking around at what remained of the decorations. ‘These are nice, did you put them up?'
'No,' said Harry, 'it was Dobby the house-elf.'
'Mistletoe,' said Luna dreamily, pointing at a large clump of white berries almost over Harry's head.
He jumped out from under it.
'Good thinking,' said Luna very seriously. 'It's often infested with Nargles.'
Yikes! Possible Harry/Luna here, what with her admiring the decorations of him and the parallel between her pointing out the mistletoe to him, and his later kiss with Cho.
* (Ginny Weasley) 'Yeah, I know,' said Angelina, 'but she's pretty good, actually. Nothing on you, of course,' she said, throwing him a very dirty look, 'but as we can't have you…'
God, Angelina’s such a drama queen. And I thought the Slytherins were theatrical. Everything’s a three-act tragedy in Gryffindor.
“Yeah, I know?” Know what? This sounds a bit of an implied insult to Ginny.
To be fair, I can’t be pleased on the issue of her being Seeker, since her outdoing Harry would make her even more of a Sue, and unlikely, since she’s had less practice; but the whole ‘Ginny actually wants to be a Chaser, and thankfully has no interest in taking her man’s limelight, or competing with him in any way, isn’t it lucky that she’s good enough to win but not so good that she makes Harry look bad?’ makes me yack.
* Harry bit back the retort he was longing to utter: did she imagine for a second that he did not regret his expulsion from the team a hundred times more than she did?
Um. Yes.
Well, to be fair, I think Harry regrets his expulsion. But that’s really the equivalent of a convict being remorseful they got convicted. I mean, I’m sure Malfoy regrets saying the stuff that got him beat up (well, not too much, since half the Gryffindors are off the team. Which, writing that, makes me wonder why we don’t have a gloating scene over this.) but that’s not exactly the same as wishing he hadn’t said it because it was hurtful and uncalled for.
I don’t think Harry regrets losing his temper and making an idiot out of himself in front of the school, or outnumbering his opponent, or simply being violent. I think he regrets that he’s being forced to face reality and accept repercussions. If he’d got a detention, I don’t think he’d even have thought twice about the whole thing.
So the whole ‘Harry’s “depress(ed)” and “trying to keep his voice even” over not being on the team, nanny boo hoo’ schtick is not really working, for me.
* 'We're not doing anything new?' said Zacharias Smith, in a disgruntled whisper loud enough to carry. 'If I'd known that, I wouldn't have come.'
'We're all really sorry Harry didn't tell you, then,' said Fred loudly.
Several people sniggered.
Harry saw Cho laughing…
Everybody hates Zacharias, apparently (including Cho, who seems very angered at anyone disagreeing with Harry.) That’ll teach him to question authority.
I’d say he should be wearing a red shirt, but that’s for characters that are going to die, isn’t it? What do red herrings wear? Black hats?
* Neville still has no friends, but on the upside, has “improved beyond all recognition.”
Oh, gooooood. Now he can fit in and be exactly like the Trio, rather than having his own interests and personality.
To clarify, I don’t think it’s particularly OOC that Neville is brave, and that he establishes said bravery by fighting either physically or magically - it’s a theme present in the very first book, after all.
Nor do I dislike his personality.
I just feel uncomfortable with the direction of his character, and how he appears to be heading towards friendship with the Trio by ‘proving’ himself as like them, rather than because they particularly value him.
I mean, I like him best when he’s quietly getting on with things, and find that admirable; whereas JKR appears to be pushing ‘See, y’all thought he was useless then, but look! He’ll lay the smackdown, and adores Harry!’ as if that’s supposed to make me like him more, when in fact it’s less. I guess he’s a little similar to Luna, and a reason why I’m reluctant to get too ‘attached’ to her, so to speak; as the very reason I find them interesting is that they’re not like the Trio, or the kind of people who would want to be, and yet their most heroic moments are them fitting into the Warrior!Gryffindor mould.
Elkins wrote some interesting essays on Neville’s behaviour in PS, the closest book to this one, in terms of his characterization, and whether it in fact, and apparently contrarily or unbeknownst to JKR, illustrated his lack of courage, and her own impressions of Neville’s bravery, and hopes for his future (unfortunately, written pre-OotP, as all the hopes appear the opposite of where the author’s going.)
In this case, also, I feel as if JKR is ‘rewarding’ him, as commented earlier - he’s a good person, morally speaking, so he gets to improve, rather than because of any natural talent; and similiarly to the bad characters, who seem to be punished not because of any particular flaws or mistakes in their actions (since these actions are often paralleled or mirrored by the leads) so much as because we’re supposed to dislike them and be thrilled they’ve lost, whether it’s realistic, fair or even makes much sense.
* …his heart gave a jolt that seemed to take it into the region of his Adam's apple.
Was this description so great, JKR had to use it three times?
* 'Yeah, well,' said Harry wearily, moving towards the door, 'I dunno why nor does anyone else, so it's nothing to be proud of.'
Blahblah modestycakes. Until the next time you want to brag about how brave and heroic you are, and all the woe and torment you’ve undergone.
* 'Oh, don't go!' said Cho, sounding tearful again. ‘I’m really sorry to get all upset like this ... I didn't mean to ...'
Cho actually is kind of creepy with the moodswings - a minute ago, she was “beaming”.
I do tend to defend her, though, since the reasons she’s criticised appear to be somewhat unfair - she gets in the way of other OTPs, the authorial voice dislikes her, she’s overly emotional (yet somehow every criticism of Harry is always countered with ‘But he’s got a lot to be upset about!’ And I can’t help but see this as some kind of latent sexism, from both audience and ((encouraged by)) the author - Harry’s behaviour, while more harmful to others than Cho’s, has an odd kind of dignity. It’s masculine, it’s tough.
Although, disliking Cho for her tears seems hypocritical if you admire Hermione or Ginny at all, since they’re big criers themselves. In fact, there’s a list of tears in HP, and it doesn’t seem coincidental to me, that the vast majority have been girls and ineffectual (magically untalented, chubby) men.
* She was very pretty even when her eyes were red and puffy.
Oh thank god. She still has a value, then.
* 'I know it must be horrible for you…Me mentioning Cedric, when you saw him die…I suppose you just want to forget about it?'
Harry did not say anything to this; it was quite true, but he felt heartless saying it.
Harry’s feelings about Cedric keep shifting - one minute he wants everyone to acknowledge him, the next to forget.
* 'You're a r-really good teacher, you know,' said Cho, with a watery smile. 'I've never been able to Stun anything before.'
Of course you haven’t, dearie. What can Cho do? She’s not even that good at Quidditch, anymore, apparently.
(I love the part later when Cho’s all ‘The Patronuses are liek so pretty!11’ and Harry has to “sternly” correct her.)
In PoA, you have the Perfect Girl who's passively chased by Cedric and Harry; and now suddenly she's a ridiculous fool who, significantly, is much more sexually aggressive towards Harry.
Whereas Ginny, of course, has traded places with her, going from the shallow stalker who *tada* is attempting to chase Harry, to suddenly cool and conventiently, disengaged in dating.
Now hopefully if they get together, he'll be able to chase her, the way it should be. Cause god knows, only nasty girls like Pansy or Cho express interest in romance or sex. You know, sluts.
And the treatment of the groups’ skills as a whole is fairly confusing. They go from being unable to perform second year spells, so it’s asserted how much better and advanced Harry is than everyone else, to accomplishing things adults can't, and beating Death Eaters, showing what a fantastic teacher Harry is.
I feel bad for Cho. She seems to “really like” Harry, as a person, and is quite sensitive to his feelings; whereas he doesn’t appear to admire much about her beyond her looks, and is fairly impatient with her.
* He returned to the common room half an hour later…
Ew. I don’t want to know what they did in that half-hour. The whole Harry!Romance plotline grosses me out. Odd, since most fic is far more graphic, and I prefer Harry/Cho to any other possibilities.
I think mostly it’s because he’s not enjoying himself (Really haven’t been convinced of Teh Straightness, either, what with the “burning desire to run”, feeling “paralysed” and “much too close” and as if his brain were “stunned”. Not to mention the increasing closeness, like they’re about to inspect each other’s pores.) because Canon!Harry revolts me out in general, and because JKR can’t seem to write a human, heterosexual relationship without turning it into some kind of Spice Girl meets Victorian style culture-clash Battle of the Sexes.
* Harry…was in a state of shock. Half of him wanted to tell Ron and Hermione what had just happened, but the other half wanted to take the secret with him to the grave.
Christ, you’d think he was date raped.
Especially with the whole tragical reaction, in which he’s “half-hearted”, “numb”, “hoarse” “reluctant (to) grin” and not knowing “whether he’s alright”, speaking “heavily”. Even Harry kissing has to be angsty!
* Hermione took matters out of his hands. 'Is it Cho?' she asked in a businesslike way. 'Did she corner you after the meeting?'
Telling language there - “corner(ing)” like trapping an animal, and Hermione “(taking) matters out of his hands” as if relationships/sex/emotions are solely a female preserve, which men can’t/won’t understand.
And of course, the “business” like manner, as if it’s naturally her business.
* 'Are you that bad at kissing?'
'Dunno,' said Harry, who hadn't considered this, and immediately felt rather worried. 'Maybe I am.'
Hahahaha. Ron cracks me up. Including his mixed reactions of curiousity, amusement, disgust and triumph (to be fair, if I were Hermione, I’d be pretty revolted at that, though, and the “gesture” he makes with his “fist.” Ew. I’m going to picture him as Joey Tribbiani from now on, urging Harry to ‘Go get that beautiful pig! (oink)’
* 'Of course you're not,' said Hermione absently, still scribbling away at her letter.
'How do you know?' said Ron very sharply.
'Because Cho spends half her time crying these days,' said Hermione vaguely. 'She does it at mealtimes, in the loos, all over the place.'
That’s not really evidence that Harry’s not also a bad kisser. But whatever.
How does Hermione know all this, anyway? She and Cho have never, canonically, even spoken (apart from that bit over who’s leader of the DA. Which didn’t provide much information about Cho’s mental state, one would think.)
Neither does Hermione appear to interact much with fellow girls, excepting Ginny, who might tell her that Cho cries in the loos. (I’m wondering if she cries at mealtimes, why Harry doesn’t notice. I mean, that’s going a little beyond self-absorbed…!)
Nor does Hermione appear particularly interested in Cho outside her capacity as Harry’s Love Interest (aw. She really is the author’s insert!), and indeed, even while now discussing their relationship, is ‘vague’ and ‘absent’.
* 'What's that supposed to mean?' said Ron indignantly. 'What sort of person cries while someone's kissing them?'
'Yeah,' said Harry, slightly desperately, 'who does?'
People who have to kiss Harry Potter? Sobbing with remorse no doubt, to quote Maya.
* 'Well, obviously, she's feeling very sad, because of Cedric dying. Then I expect she's feeling confused because she liked Cedric and now she likes Harry, and she can't work out who she likes best. Then she'll be feeling guilty, thinking it's an insult to Cedric's memory to be kissing Harry at all, and she'll be worrying about what everyone else might say about her if she starts going out with Harry. And she probably can't work out what her feelings towards Harry are, anyway, because he was the one who was with Cedric when Cedric died, so that's all very mixed up and painful. Oh, and she's afraid she's going to be thrown off the Ravenclaw Quidditch team because she's been flying so badly.'
A slightly stunned silence greeted the end of this speech.
I’m not surprised!
I think the cherry on the cake is Hermione lecturing the two fliers on Cho’s skills or lackthereof.
I do think Harry is almost frightening in his complete inability to grasp any kind of emotional complexity, and actually wondered whether this was all part of the whole OotP theme of 'Finally Harry shows 1/10th of the damage a realistic character would have after his upbringing and experiences'; but to me, it's too little too late. We've had four books of Harry has suffered almost no ill effects, so to have it all explode now after so much placidity smacks a little of hysteria.
And the whole confusion over 'how girl’s brains work' made me wonder whether he actually had some kind of personality disorder.
I mean, I get not understanding the minute details of Cho's multiple upsets, but he seems not to have noticed she's upset at all (or of course, Ginny's 'real' personality) which is going past 'self-involved' into almost autistic; and doesn't really fit, considering how it's constantly reasserted how very sensitive and thoughtful he also is.
I just wish there was some kind of normal, middle-ground.
We've got the boys who are completely oblivious to everything (and seriously, I've met teenage boys. They're no geniuses, but most of them, you know, can converse with other humans without an interpreter. Gasp! They can even, like women, manipulate. And Rowling can write this - look at Draco. Of course, we could get into Draco's portrayal here, and how he's written as effeminate, thus feminine, thus TEH EVIL...;) and the girls who are expert at analysing behaviour (and yet only seem to utilise this skill in the service of their male friends. I mean, Hermione had plenty of trouble interacting with classmates previously, but when she needs to help Harry, suddenly she's Freud or something.)
Who, as a teenage girl, could give mini-thesises on the psychology and motivations of strangers of either sex?
I mean, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out Cho's feelings, and at 21, I probably could make a guess reasonably similiar to Hermione's, but to be able to verbally voice this, with utmost confidence, having lacked the benefit of the audience and being present during any revealing Cho scenes, at 15?
I guess because girls all think alike, in easy predictable patterns. Hermione can recognise this, much as she recognises Umbridge's EVOL!11 before others, but she doesn't like it, hence the disinterest in actual female friendships.
* 'She was the one who started it,' said Harry. 'I wouldn’tve - she just sort of came at me-’
Wow. There’s an enlightening quote for you. As is:
* ‘I’ll have to (see her again), won't I?' said Harry.
Hermione's words opened up a whole new vista of frightening possibilities. He tried to imagine going somewhere with Cho - Hogsmeade, perhaps - and being alone with her for hours at a time. Of course, she would have been expecting him to ask her out after what had just happened ... the thought made his stomach clench painfully.
* 'What if he doesn't want to ask her?' said Ron, who had been watching Harry with an unusually shrewd expression on his face.
'Don't be silly,' said Hermione vaguely, 'Harry's liked her for ages, haven't you, Harry?'
When Ron and Hermione are discussing Cho with Harry, it is Ron who considers whether Harry wants to ask her out again or not; he can imagine a male existence without women, whereas Hermione cannot.
* …whenever he had imagined a scene involving the two of them it had always featured a Cho who was enjoying herself, as opposed to a Cho who was sobbing uncontrollably into his shoulder.
This book is bringing out my inner fifteen year old (who’s never far away ;) and I’m afraid I gagged a little at the idea of Harry’s imaginings.
* 'Who're you writing the novel to, anyway?' Ron asked Hermione, trying to read the bit of parchment now trailing on the floor.
What on earth does Hermione find to say to Krum? All they’re mentioned to have discussed is, of course, Harry. She doesn’t even appear to converse with her parents that much, or have many hobbies. Is she writing screeds on Umbridge/Voldemort/SPEW or do they actual have something in common? *Gasp* Might she even fancy him? (Oh, surely not!)
* They sat in silence for another twenty minutes…Harry staring into the fire, wishing more than anything that Sirius's head would appear there and give him some advice about girls.
But Sirius knows nothing of girls! He’s married to Remmy-chan!
Heh, sorry, couldn’t resist.
More of the Gryffindors sitting quietly in their common room, ignoring each other.
* 'What does she see in Krum?' Ron demanded.
'Well,' said Harry, considering the matter
BWAHAHA.
* 'I s'pose he's older, isn't he ... and he's an international Quidditch player ...'
'Yeah, but apart from that,' said Ron, sounding aggravated. 'I mean, he's a grouchy git, isn't he?'
Ron, although being boringly jealous, appears to have more faith in Hermione’s taste than Harry - Ron assesses Krum’s personality, whereas Harry assumes Hermione is attracted by Krum’s age and fame.
* Hermione's explanation had made it all seem more complicated rather than easier to understand.
Stupid Cho, having complex motivations and a personality and flaws, rather than being the mute blow up sex doll of previous books and apparently, Harry’s dreams.
Although Hermione’s explanation was pretty lame.
* Cho was accusing him of luring her there under false pretences; she said he had promised her a hundred and fifty Chocolate Frog Cards if she showed up. Harry protested…Cho shouted, 'Cedric gave me loads of Chocolate Frog Cards, look!'
Then she turned into Hermione, who said, 'You did promise her, you know, Harry…I think you'd better give her something else instead…how about your Firebolt?' And Harry was protesting that he could not give Cho his Firebolt, because Umbridge had it, and anyway the whole thing was ridiculous, he'd only come to the DA room to put up Christmas baubles shaped like Dobby's head…
Yikes. Freud would have fun with this one! Emasculation, penis extensions, associations with prostitution and seduction, inadequacy and competiton with Cedric.
However, since I’ve only taken a term of first year Psychology, and failed it with flying colours, the only fact I learnt being that my teacher calls Freud ‘Fraud’; I’ll leave well alone.
Harry’s dreams still crack me up, though.
* …feeling the warm gush of blood...blood was splattering on to the floor... ‘there was blood everywhere…’…‘he's bleeding like mad…’
Every inch of his body was covered in icy sweat; his bed covers were twisted all around him like a strait-jacket; he felt as though a white-hot poker were being applied to his forehead…He clutched his head in his hands; the pain was blinding him ... he rolled right over and vomited over the edge of the mattress…Taking great gulps of air, Harry pushed himself up in bed, willing himself not to throw up again, the pain half-blinding him…The pain in his forehead was subsiding slightly, though he was still sweating and shivering feverishly. He retched again and Ron leapt backwards out of the way…Whether one minute passed or ten, Harry did not know; he simply sat shaking, feeling the pain recede very slowly from his scar…Harry choked, shaking uncontrollably.
Teh Drama!111 This part is quite similar to Detention with Dolores in how it deals with pain and um, gore. I think I’ve expressed my feelings on that, though.
The vomiting somehow reminds me of fanfic. I don’t know why. And I guess that’s a rather chilling insight into the kind of fic I read! Just a very intense, unlovely reaction. Canon usually keeps to a more silent, attractive suffering. But I like Less!Prettily!Heroic!Harry, I think. Again, have already covered a little on whether Harry has less or more ‘Hurt/Comfort’ appeal in OotP.
* He could hear Seamus and Dean muttering but did not care.
And Teh Paranoia!111
Jeez, I’d be muttering if my scary angry roommate suddenly woke me up vomiting and shaking (happens more than you might think! ;) They’re probably worried. And perhaps curious. I’d have thought Harry would be satisfied they’re paying attention.
* McGonagall’s good in an emergency. Says what Harry wants to hear, and asks pertinent questions, like ‘Where does it hurt?’
And poor wickle supportive Ron!
Somehow I am unmoved by Neville running for help, though. (Who is of course, the mysterious “scared voice” - why can’t Harry tell which of his dormmates is talking, anyway? He can tell the difference between identical twins, voice recognition shouldn’t be that hard.)
* …it was a member of the Order he needed now, not someone fussing over him and prescribing useless potions.
Ouch. I suppose that’s a bit of a burn on Pomfrey. God knows why, since she hasn’t even dealt with Harry this book. And I always recall her being fairly helpful to him, anyway.
I shall interpret this as a sexist jibe to women and medicine, as this is my default reaction to…well, everything (I’m great fun at parties! ;)
* All Harry’s ‘Will NO-ONE understand?’ and ‘I’m not CRAZY!11’’s are making me laugh. I want the movie version of this to feature him saying the latter, then running off, legs at all angles, ala Scary Movie.
In which the chapter is loooong.
* More Fred and George ignoring Prefect!Ron.
More emphasis of Umbridge wearing the Colour We Do Not Speak Of.
* Hermione returned from Hagrid's just before lunch, shivering slightly, her robes damp to the knees.
Heh.
* She pulled out her wand and gave it a complicated little wave so that hot air streamed out of the tip; she then pointed this at her robes, which began to steam as they dried out.
There’s about six mentions in this chapter and the last about Hermione and her weather charms. Huh.
* Harry groaned. The Forbidden Forest was teeming with the kind of creatures most likely to get Hagrid the sack.
I love the wording of this. Damn creatures, ruining Hagrid’s reputation by existing and being inadequately trained by him!
You know what’s going to get Hagrid the sack, should my wildest dreams occur and he did? Not creatures, not students, not prejudice that OMG he’z a half-giant!11 It would be Hagrid himself.
* 'I tried to explain about Umbridge, but he just doesn't get it. …I don't think he's got a Chimera,' she added at the appalled look on Harry and Ron's faces, 'but that's not for lack of trying, from what he said about how hard it is to get eggs. I don't know how many times I told him he'd be better off following Grubbly-Plank's plan, I honestly don't think he listened to half of what I said. He's in a bit of a funny mood, you know. He still won't say how he got all those injuries.'
Hermione talks about Hagrid a little bit as if he’s a kid. Which isn’t far off the mark.
There’s something a bit creepily childish about him - the way he can’t keep a secret, the way he cries easily and often, sometimes drowning his sorrows, the way he hoards and hides things badly, like a toddler does, and the way he won’t or can’t understand reason. Even his reactions are immature - he becomes defensive, angry and flusters, and can’t conceal it at all.
There’s never any awareness from him that he has responsibilities and is the authority figure in a lesson. He panics. He asks his students for help. He sinks to childrens’ levels (the tail on Dudley, for example.) He (and to be fair, this is a trait shared by a lot of his house members) has no understanding of rules which serve to protect others.
(I was rather irritated to see on one of the other recent readthroughs, from a poster who usually offers insightful comments, that ‘people…seem to take an elderly aunt's perspective on "rulebreaking" in the HP books.’ Again, to be fair, this is a criticism offered previously by others - if you don’t agree with the way the rules operate, or rather don’t, in HP, you must adore authority and discipline (and not in a kinky sense ;) or else demand that fictional characters keep to strict guidelines and never have any fun or do anything wrong. Nope. Me? Not so much a rule-follower, never have been. I don’t have high moral standards for the characters I prefer - hello, Slytherin fan.
I do like internal consistency in books, however. If I see rulebreaking punished in one situation, seeing it rewarded in the next gives me no sense of the moral guidelines of this particular universe.
Not to mention, the whole Anarchy! Down with Rules!11 theme is both incredibly tired (I guess that’s why the books are aimed at kids!) and more than a little hypocritical, considering that both the positive characters, and indeed, members of the fandom, believe in never questioning most authority figures; not to mention on a meta-level, the author.)
I mean, god forbid I say this, but some rules are *gasp* useful. And meant to help, not hinder. Like laws banning, I don't know, murder?
And it's always the people who criticise any form of government who are first to accept favours from it once the bias is favourable to them, and expect the law to protect them.
Heh, that's what I dislike about these books. I end up defending people and things I don't actually agree with, like conservatives, racists and bureaucracy just because the treatment of them is so one-sided, biased and simplistic.
* Hagrid's reappearance at the staff table…was not greeted by enthusiasm from all students. Some, like Fred, George and Lee, roared with delight and sprinted up the aisle…to wring Hagrid's enormous hand; others, like Parvati and Lavender, exchanged gloomy looks and shook their heads.
Harry knew that many of them preferred Professor Grubbly-Plank's lessons, and the worst of it was that a very small, unbiased part of him knew that they had good reason: Grubbly-Plank's idea of an interesting class was not one where there was a risk that somebody might have their head ripped off.
…
It was with apprehension that Harry, Ron and Hermione headed down to Hagrid's…
…
He did not present a reassuring sight…
…
As though to complete the ominous picture…
Hee! I will say this - I like that the characters in OotP are slightly more ambigous.
We can see actual reasons why people might dislike the Trio or Hagrid (even though the only ones canonically presented are still ‘OMG they r just jellus/racist/evol!11’) and there are even *gasp* people who disagree with them. Including each other, albeit rarely!
Even Harry, Hermione and Ron are aware of Hagrid’s failings as a teacher, for example.
Someone explain to me why Grubbly-Plank doesn’t get the job of CoMC teacher, anyway? Stupid Dumbledore.
Or, for that matter, why Fred, George and Lee could care less about Hagrid? I suppose because they're 'cool' and 'good'. Or maybe because they get to mess around more in his lessons.
* Harry was worried, not only about what Hagrid might have decided to teach them, but also about how the rest of the class, particularly Malfoy and his cronies, would behave if Umbridge was watching them.
The pathetic thing is that Draco and co. never even lie or make much effort to make Hagrid look bad - apparently they have no need to. (Heh, this reminds me of PoA when Harry’s all ‘Malfoy had done his very best to get Hagrid sacked the previous year.’ That’s his best? For real? That’s pretty bad. Lucius didn’t even come up to the school. Way to be ineffectual in your Evil Campaign, all his father did was demand that Hagrid’s animal be destroyed - I don’t think Hagrid himself was even mentioned.)
Basically what Harry is afraid of here is that the truth, which is unflattering, will come out.
Much like the earlier scene, where he frets over Malfoy “telling tales” about Hagrid, neglecting to note that if Hagrid were competent, there’d be no tales to tell.
* 'What prefers the dark?' Harry heard Malfoy say sharply to Crabbe and Goyle, a trace of panic in his voice. 'What did he say prefers the dark - did you hear?'
Malfoy has many, many faults, but I'll say this for him: he appears to have the opposite attitude to Harry when it comes to repeating dangerous confrontations with teachers/classes.
None of that 'battle of wills' bit - he avoids Moody to the point of phobia, and he apparently isn't willing to get caught being 'too stupid to listen' to Hagrid again.
* Harry remembered the only other occasion on which Malfoy had entered the Forest before now; he had not been very brave then, either.
Huh? What does Harry remember of his own reaction, then?
Was being 'unable to move' from fear liek, totally macho?
Or rather, Harry concealed his feelings. Which is the proper way to do things. Bottle, bottle, bottle. Be a man!
* He smiled to himself; after the Quidditch match anything that caused Malfoy discomfort was all right with him.
Heh. Love that ‘after’ qualifier, as if he’d never usually lower himself to being so malicious.
It reminds me of a line in PoA *digs*:
“The enmity between Harry and Malfoy was at its highest point ever.
Malfoy was still smarting about the mud-throwing incident in Hogsmeade, and even more furious that Harry had somehow wormed his way out of punishment.
Harry hadn't forgotten Malfoy's attempt to sabotage him in the match against Ravenclaw, but it was the matter of Buckbeak that made him most determined to beat Malfoy in front of the entire school.”
Hee! Like, usually they’re calm, sportsmanlike boys, but now they’re pissed off and competitive!
Of course, at least in PoA, there’s a motive ascribed to Malfoy, also, and a fairly reasonable one, unlike now.
So far, we have recalling of the Buckbeak incident and the Forbidden Forest; but Malfoy himself, appears to have completely forgotten, say, the train hexing. Or the Quidditch fight.
Basically, both Malfoy and Harry can remember events in which either Draco or a teacher screws up, but Harry's part in any events is almost never discussed, since, you know, it's not a flattering side to him.
I'd also love to hear him describing said match, because to me, the wording suggests that he remembers himself as being victimised - Malfoy hasn't been discomforted enough, or his discomfort should match Harry's.
* Lots of suddenly!friendly!Hagrid this chapter, even greeting Umbridge politely (here’s a sample of adjectives used to describe him: cheerfully, encouraged, happily, chuckling, smiling, brightly, beaming, patiently.) I guess to contrast with Umbridge and assert that while his teaching skills are doubtful, his heart’s in the right place. Or something.
Me, I can’t find one single lesson previously in which Hagrid made any effort with a student outside the Trio, so all this ‘Look at Professor Hagrid, isn’t he nice, he loves you all!’ spin chafes a little, but whatever.
* 'Right, well, I've bin savin' a trip inter the Forest fer yer fifth year…’
For a treat or because the creatures are unsuitable for younger students?
* 'And you're sure they're trained, are you?' said Malfoy, the panic in his voice even more pronounced. 'Only it wouldn't be the first time you'd brought wild stuff to class, would it?'
The Slytherins murmured agreement and a few Gryffindors looked as though they thought Malfoy had a fair point, too.
Wow. Even the Gryffindors? *gains small amount of respect for that house as a whole*
* 'Course they're trained,' said Hagrid, scowling…
'So what happened to your face, then?' demanded Malfoy.
'Mind yer own business!' said Hagrid, angrily. 'Now, if yeh've finished askin' stupid questions, follow me!'
Heh. Hagrid’s so defensive about his teaching skills, considering he has none.
Seriously, though, his massive self-delusion is actually kind of creepy. He’s gone from hysterical doubt of himself in PoA to genuinely believing that his animals are harmless, and that ‘no-one in their right mind (would prefer safe ones)’, even in the face of some pretty over-whelming evidence. He doesn’t even listen to the Trio anymore.
Also, the ‘mind your business’ is fairly repressive, considering that restriction over what students know is part of the reason Umbridge is so Evil!!11!!! (Also, she implies people are ‘stupid’. And she can’t/won’t answer basic questions about class plans. Or to quote a comparison:
Hagrid opened his mouth, apparently thinking hard; there was a few seconds' pause, then he said roughly, "Tha's next lesson.”)
* Nobody seemed much disposed to follow. Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione, who sighed but nodded, and the three of them set off after Hagrid, leading the rest of the class.
God knows why the rest of the class follows (strike! ;) If all of them stayed put, Hagrid couldn’t do much) but more puncturing of the ‘Trio are underdogs and unpopular in their classes’ myth. They lead, others follow.
* Parvati is very scared of the Thestrals. Presumably because she’s so silly. Hermione, in contrast, is of course, unruffled and fascinated.
* 'Don' worry, it won' hurt yeh,' said Hagrid.
‘Might take a bit outta yeh if yeh really annoy them’, though. That’s not real hurt, though, is it? Besides, it’s only Parvati, she’s not even close to the Trio. Who cares?
* ‘The only people who can see Thestrals,' she said, 'are people who have seen death.'
So…um. What is the point of this lesson? I mean, far be it for me to question Hagrid’s wisdom, and much as the Thestrals sound ‘useful’, why dedicate classtime to creatures that can’t be observed by the vast majority of the class, and only get used twice a year, anyway?
* Hagrid, who had never heard Umbridge's fake cough before, was gazing in some concern at the closest Thestral, evidently under the impression that it had made the sound.
Heh!
* 'You received the note I sent to your cabin this morning?' said Umbridge, in the same loud, slow voice she had used with him earlier, as though she were addressing somebody both foreign and very slow.
OMG. How very racist. I bet Hagrid would never condescend to foreign people.
* 'Well, as you can see - or, I dunno - can you?'
Can she?
* Umbridge’s miming made me laugh. I’m going to hell.
* Draco Malfoy looked as though Christmas had come a month early;
Wow. So Malfoy’s revelling in other’s ‘discomfort’ here? That’s pretty low. For shame!
Indeed, should, say, Snape be inspected, I imagine Harry would demonstrate the correct way to behave; with no joy whatsoever.
* ‘…Name o' Tenebrus, he's my special favourite, firs' one born here in the Forest -'
Tenebrous means ‘dark and gloomy’.
* 'Are you aware,' Umbridge said loudly, interrupting him, 'that the Ministry of Magic has classified Thestrals as "dangerous"?'
Harry's heart sank like a stone, but Hagrid merely chuckled. ‘Thestrals aren' dangerous! All righ', they might take a bite outta yeh if yeh really annoy them -'
'Shows…signs…of…pleasure…at…idea…of…violence,' muttered Umbridge, scribbling on her clipboard again.
'No - come on!' said Hagrid, looking a little anxious now. 'I mean, a dog'll bite if yeh bait it, won' it -’
Ugh. Shades of Buckbeak all over again. Does Hagrid even know what happens to dogs in the Muggle world that bite seriously, regardless of baiting? Cause it’s pretty similar to the result of the trial in PoA.
And I’d love to know Hagrid (or indeed, JKR’s) definition of ‘baiting’.
How on earth do you know if you’ve ‘annoy’ed something you can’t see? Not to mention, all the responsibility to behave in this situation is, again, placed on the students’ shoulders, whereas the animals and Hagrid are free to run amok.
Plus, since Hagrid ‘reckon(s) (he’s) probably the on'y person in Britain who's managed ter train 'em', it’s doesn’t appear that they are very safe for students to be around.
* ‘…but Thestrals have jus' got a bad reputation because o' the death thing - people used ter think they were bad omens, didn' they? Jus' didn' understand, did they?'
Aw. It’s like a thinly veiled racism metaphor, about how people mistrust what they don’t understand! Yay, we haven’t had one of those for about a chapter.
I would have thought Thestrals have a bad reputation also for being um, dangerous; not to mention invisible and yes, associated with death.
* Hermione, on the other hand, had turned scarlet with suppressed rage…
…
Hermione actually shaking with fury…
…
Hermione had tears of fury in her eyes now. 'You hag, you evil hag!' she whispered, as Umbridge walked towards Pansy Parkinson. 'I know what you're doing, you awful, twisted, vicious -'
Hermione’s reaction here, I think, is motivated by her personal resentment of Umbridge as much as her loyalty to Hagrid, I think - considering Harry and Ron remain calm (odd in itself) and that Hermione actually criticises Hagrid with more frequency than the boys. Maybe even some identification with Hagrid as one of The Oppressed People that Never Seem to Suffer From Much/Any Um…Oppression.
* 'Do you find,' said Professor Umbridge in a ringing voice to Pansy Parkinson, 'that you are able to understand Professor Hagrid when he talks?'
Pansy had tears in her eyes, but these were tears of laughter; indeed, her answer was almost incoherent because she was trying to suppress her giggles. 'No…because…well…it sounds…like grunting a lot of the time.’
The unbruised bit of Hagrid's face flushed, but he tried to act as though he had not heard Pansy's answer.
Burn. And Hagrid tried so hard to impress her and her fellow house members, and more importantly, guarantee them a good education. Pansy, how can you throw that in his face?! Heh. This would be like Snape blushing to find out that the Trio don’t think well of him - shock, horror! Dude, if you want students to like you, make an effort.
I actually think Pansy and many of the other students wouldn’t be able to understand Hagrid very well - I can hardly decipher his speech/accent, and it’s written down! - or feel confident in asking him questions seriously, given his defensive reactions and dismissive attitude. And the fact he doesn’t actually seem to know much about his subject.
* 'Er…yeah…good stuff abou' Thestrals. Well, once they're tamed, like this lot, yeh'll never be lost again. 'Mazin' sense o' direction, jus' tell 'em where yeh want ter go -'
And we have exposition for the end chapter. Heh, there’s really no need for anyone else to attend classes, as long as Harry gets the Important Information he requires. And sometimes Neville gets extra attention, since he’s very nearly a VIP too.
* 'Assuming they can understand you, of course,' said Malfoy loudly, and Pansy Parkinson collapsed in a fit of renewed giggles.
Professor Umbridge smiled indulgently at them…
Uh oh. Apparent favouritism in Hogwarts, and it’s directed towards the wrong group!
Also, it appears that the Thestrals do understand English, like Hippogryffs. What’s up with that? Can they also do differentiate between tone and intent? What about other languages?
* 'You can see the Thestrals, Longbottom, can you?' she said.
Neville nodded.
'Who did you see die?' she asked, her tone indifferent.
She doesn’t “sound sorry at all”. There’s not “the slightest sign that the (death Neville’s witnessed) might be a painful topic”. Outrageous!
I can’t wait til the relative of someone ‘bad’ inevitably dies. I’m sure we’ll see sympathy and sensitivity doled out to them by the bucket-load. One day someone will explain to me why random people should be moved by the tragic plights of strangers Harry/Neville those brave woobies!11, especially when neither of them appear overtly compassionate themselves, but whatever.
* 'Erm,' said Neville nervously, with a glance at Hagrid. ‘Well, they're…er…OK…’
'Students…are…too…intimidated…to…admit…they…are…frightened,' muttered Umbridge, making another note on her clipboard.
'No!' said Neville, looking upset. 'No, I'm not scared of them!'
All the males here (Neville, Harry, Ron, Hagrid) appear confused as to why Umbridge is condescending to Hagrid. Clearly, only Hermione, as a fellow female, can understand the depths to which we’ll sink, and how cunning and cruel our evil manipulations can be, blah blah sexistgeneralizationcakes.
I thought Neville was more scared of letting down Hagrid, here, since it would piss off a lot of his house - Harry, for example, doesn’t hesitate in fighting with his best friends over Hagrid (and Sirius) and I’m sure Neville isn’t silly enough to think that, should he not appear fond of Hagrid, that Harry wouldn’t be rather angry.
* 'It's quite all right,' said Umbridge, patting Neville on the shoulder with what she evidently intended to be an understanding smile, though it looked more like a leer to Harry.
Wow. So Umbridge sucks for not acting sympathetic, and then for acting too sympathetic.
* ‘That foul, lying, twisting old gargoyle!' stormed Hermione… 'You see what she's up to?’
If you don’t, JKR will very carefully explain it to you, here!
* ‘It's her thing about half-breeds all over again - she's trying to make out Hagrid's some kind of dimwitted troll, just because he had a giantess for a mother’
So why did she treat (the presumably pureblooded) Trelawney similiarly?
I kind of have a problem with Hagrid’s half-giant status, anyway, in that it was never mentioned until GoF.
I mean, I’m sure JKR had it planned and everything, but you’d think, oh I don’t know, it might be mentioned when he got carted off to Azkaban, or as a contributory reason for his expulsion: everyone was willing to believe the worst of a ‘half-breed’.
JKR spent four books on Hagrid and his sometimes dubious behaviour, and then suddenly people disliking him becomes Teh Prejudice. It’s like suddenly announcing Pansy Parkinson or someone was Muggleborn and expecting us to think that any hatred for her is down to that, rather than her being obnoxious for five years.
* ‘it's not fair, that really wasn't a bad lesson at all - I mean, all right, if it had been Blast-Ended Skrewts again, but Thestrals are fine - in fact, for Hagrid, they're really good!'
'Umbridge said they're dangerous,' said Ron.
Can't help but see this as a bit of projection from Hermione - Everyone who ever criticises me poor oppressed Hagrid/Lupin/Kreacher, even over issues unrelated to our races is liek totally being prejudiced. Hence we are never responsible for any of our actions!
I shall ignore that making wild exceptions for people/creatures based on pity for them and treating them like animals who can't control themselves is actually just as offensive.
Interesting that Hermione shows she has different, lower standards for Hagrid, or conversely, higher standards for other, non-Order teachers: a lesson that would be “fine” for say, G-P to teach, is “really good” for Hagrid.
And the part about “all right, if it had been…Skrewts again”, as if, should that have been the lesson, Hermione would have had to yield to logic cracks me up. If it had been Skrewts, the situation would have been identical, and Hermione would be saying “All right, if it had been Hippogryffs, but…” And of course, if it had been Hippogryffs again, it would still end up being someone else’s fault, as it always is.
Not to mention, once again, the Trio identifies Skrewts as the most dangerous animals. Presumably because they actually hurt their own house members, rather than canon fodder, who deserve it.
Also, I like Ron’s interjection. I get the impression he'd lost/would lose sympathy for Hagrid the quickest.
Ron's the one who got bit by Norbert in PS (and a serious enough bite that he was hospitalised), Ron's the one who has that really great line in CoS about Hagrid's not being “innocent” because of hatching Aragog, and Ron's the one who's absent throughout most of the Hagrid-heavy adventures: Buckbeak and Grawp.
* 'Well, it's like Hagrid said, they can look after themselves,' said Hermione impatiently, 'and I suppose a teacher like Grubbly-Plank wouldn't usually show them to us before NEWT level, but, well, they are very interesting, aren't they? I wish I could (see them).'
Hee. Like Crabbe and Goyle can “look after themselves”?
Hermione appears to be missing the point, which is that the animals don’t need to be looked after, the kids do, and much as they all bridle at being treated like children and insist how adult they are; they’re still in the care of the school, which the frigging teachers need to realise.
Not to mention, since Hermione gets her precious lessons in dangerous and interesting creatures/magic, she doesn’t particularly mind how suitable the lessons are or who gets harmed by them. This reminds me of the earlier rationale offered by Dean about Moody, and how “He turned out to be a maniac…(but at least) we learned loads!” which is so far past the point, that the point is but a dot.
* 'Do you?' Harry asked her quietly.
She looked suddenly horrorstruck. 'Oh, Harry - I'm sorry - no, of course I don't - that was a really stupid thing to say.'
'It's OK,' he said quickly, 'don't worry.'
Ugh. If it’s okay, why bring it up? So you can do the quiet, tortured bit and once again, attempt to emotionally crowbar people into apologising to you for the horror that is your life? Shut up, Harry.
That is a really stupid thing to say, though. And I predict that by the end of the series, Hermione will be able to see the Thestrals, and not too happy about this.
* ‘I’m surprised so many people could see them,' said Ron. ‘Three in a class -'
Heh. Twice now, Nott has been referred to, and each time, Malfoy interrupts. No mentioning other Slytherins on his airtime!
* 'Yeah, Weasley, we were just wondering,' said a malicious voice. Unheard by any of them in the muffling snow, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were walking along right behind them. 'D'you reckon if you saw someone snuff it you'd be able to see the Quaffle better?'
Why doesn’t Ron just ask whether Malfoy seeing someone die would help him spot the Snitch?
What happened to Hermione and Harry’s Quick!Not!Wit retorts, anyway?
* He, Crabbe and Goyle roared with laughter as they pushed past on their way to the castle, then broke into a chorus of 'Weasley is our King'.
Crabbe and Goyle singing?! That’s something I’d like to hear!
* ('And they're cheeky little snot-rags, you know, we definitely weren't that rude when we were in first year,' said Ron) and to patrol the corridors in shifts with Argus Filch, who suspected that the holiday spirit might show itself in an outbreak of wizard duels ('He's got dung for brains, that one,' said Ron furiously).
Heh. I remember being at school and saying the same thing. Kids today, I don’t know… ;)
I don’t know about how stupid Filch is. He might be off about the date, but there’s a few student fights/injuries coming, iirc.
Atdelphi wrote an interesting essay about Filch, touching on, among other things, Ron’s reaction to him.
* Between his Quidditch ban and worry about whether or not Hagrid was going to be put on probation, he felt highly resentful towards the place at the moment.
Stupid place, forcing Ever So Special Harry and his friends to have to deal with the consequences of their actions!
* Sirius had not contacted Harry at all since his last appearance…he did not like to think of Sirius alone in his mother's old house, perhaps pulling a lonely cracker with Kreacher.
Sirius is such a little bitch.
I’m actually surprised that Harry appears to want to stay at the Burrow over seeing his godfather, though - why doesn’t he contact Sirius and ask him what he’s doing for Christmas? Or stay there instead?
* Harry had only just managed to get the last of them down before the door creaked open and Luna Lovegood entered, looking as dreamy as usual. 'Hello,' she said vaguely, looking around at what remained of the decorations. ‘These are nice, did you put them up?'
'No,' said Harry, 'it was Dobby the house-elf.'
'Mistletoe,' said Luna dreamily, pointing at a large clump of white berries almost over Harry's head.
He jumped out from under it.
'Good thinking,' said Luna very seriously. 'It's often infested with Nargles.'
Yikes! Possible Harry/Luna here, what with her admiring the decorations of him and the parallel between her pointing out the mistletoe to him, and his later kiss with Cho.
* (Ginny Weasley) 'Yeah, I know,' said Angelina, 'but she's pretty good, actually. Nothing on you, of course,' she said, throwing him a very dirty look, 'but as we can't have you…'
God, Angelina’s such a drama queen. And I thought the Slytherins were theatrical. Everything’s a three-act tragedy in Gryffindor.
“Yeah, I know?” Know what? This sounds a bit of an implied insult to Ginny.
To be fair, I can’t be pleased on the issue of her being Seeker, since her outdoing Harry would make her even more of a Sue, and unlikely, since she’s had less practice; but the whole ‘Ginny actually wants to be a Chaser, and thankfully has no interest in taking her man’s limelight, or competing with him in any way, isn’t it lucky that she’s good enough to win but not so good that she makes Harry look bad?’ makes me yack.
* Harry bit back the retort he was longing to utter: did she imagine for a second that he did not regret his expulsion from the team a hundred times more than she did?
Um. Yes.
Well, to be fair, I think Harry regrets his expulsion. But that’s really the equivalent of a convict being remorseful they got convicted. I mean, I’m sure Malfoy regrets saying the stuff that got him beat up (well, not too much, since half the Gryffindors are off the team. Which, writing that, makes me wonder why we don’t have a gloating scene over this.) but that’s not exactly the same as wishing he hadn’t said it because it was hurtful and uncalled for.
I don’t think Harry regrets losing his temper and making an idiot out of himself in front of the school, or outnumbering his opponent, or simply being violent. I think he regrets that he’s being forced to face reality and accept repercussions. If he’d got a detention, I don’t think he’d even have thought twice about the whole thing.
So the whole ‘Harry’s “depress(ed)” and “trying to keep his voice even” over not being on the team, nanny boo hoo’ schtick is not really working, for me.
* 'We're not doing anything new?' said Zacharias Smith, in a disgruntled whisper loud enough to carry. 'If I'd known that, I wouldn't have come.'
'We're all really sorry Harry didn't tell you, then,' said Fred loudly.
Several people sniggered.
Harry saw Cho laughing…
Everybody hates Zacharias, apparently (including Cho, who seems very angered at anyone disagreeing with Harry.) That’ll teach him to question authority.
I’d say he should be wearing a red shirt, but that’s for characters that are going to die, isn’t it? What do red herrings wear? Black hats?
* Neville still has no friends, but on the upside, has “improved beyond all recognition.”
Oh, gooooood. Now he can fit in and be exactly like the Trio, rather than having his own interests and personality.
To clarify, I don’t think it’s particularly OOC that Neville is brave, and that he establishes said bravery by fighting either physically or magically - it’s a theme present in the very first book, after all.
Nor do I dislike his personality.
I just feel uncomfortable with the direction of his character, and how he appears to be heading towards friendship with the Trio by ‘proving’ himself as like them, rather than because they particularly value him.
I mean, I like him best when he’s quietly getting on with things, and find that admirable; whereas JKR appears to be pushing ‘See, y’all thought he was useless then, but look! He’ll lay the smackdown, and adores Harry!’ as if that’s supposed to make me like him more, when in fact it’s less. I guess he’s a little similar to Luna, and a reason why I’m reluctant to get too ‘attached’ to her, so to speak; as the very reason I find them interesting is that they’re not like the Trio, or the kind of people who would want to be, and yet their most heroic moments are them fitting into the Warrior!Gryffindor mould.
Elkins wrote some interesting essays on Neville’s behaviour in PS, the closest book to this one, in terms of his characterization, and whether it in fact, and apparently contrarily or unbeknownst to JKR, illustrated his lack of courage, and her own impressions of Neville’s bravery, and hopes for his future (unfortunately, written pre-OotP, as all the hopes appear the opposite of where the author’s going.)
In this case, also, I feel as if JKR is ‘rewarding’ him, as commented earlier - he’s a good person, morally speaking, so he gets to improve, rather than because of any natural talent; and similiarly to the bad characters, who seem to be punished not because of any particular flaws or mistakes in their actions (since these actions are often paralleled or mirrored by the leads) so much as because we’re supposed to dislike them and be thrilled they’ve lost, whether it’s realistic, fair or even makes much sense.
* …his heart gave a jolt that seemed to take it into the region of his Adam's apple.
Was this description so great, JKR had to use it three times?
* 'Yeah, well,' said Harry wearily, moving towards the door, 'I dunno why nor does anyone else, so it's nothing to be proud of.'
Blahblah modestycakes. Until the next time you want to brag about how brave and heroic you are, and all the woe and torment you’ve undergone.
* 'Oh, don't go!' said Cho, sounding tearful again. ‘I’m really sorry to get all upset like this ... I didn't mean to ...'
Cho actually is kind of creepy with the moodswings - a minute ago, she was “beaming”.
I do tend to defend her, though, since the reasons she’s criticised appear to be somewhat unfair - she gets in the way of other OTPs, the authorial voice dislikes her, she’s overly emotional (yet somehow every criticism of Harry is always countered with ‘But he’s got a lot to be upset about!’ And I can’t help but see this as some kind of latent sexism, from both audience and ((encouraged by)) the author - Harry’s behaviour, while more harmful to others than Cho’s, has an odd kind of dignity. It’s masculine, it’s tough.
Although, disliking Cho for her tears seems hypocritical if you admire Hermione or Ginny at all, since they’re big criers themselves. In fact, there’s a list of tears in HP, and it doesn’t seem coincidental to me, that the vast majority have been girls and ineffectual (magically untalented, chubby) men.
* She was very pretty even when her eyes were red and puffy.
Oh thank god. She still has a value, then.
* 'I know it must be horrible for you…Me mentioning Cedric, when you saw him die…I suppose you just want to forget about it?'
Harry did not say anything to this; it was quite true, but he felt heartless saying it.
Harry’s feelings about Cedric keep shifting - one minute he wants everyone to acknowledge him, the next to forget.
* 'You're a r-really good teacher, you know,' said Cho, with a watery smile. 'I've never been able to Stun anything before.'
Of course you haven’t, dearie. What can Cho do? She’s not even that good at Quidditch, anymore, apparently.
(I love the part later when Cho’s all ‘The Patronuses are liek so pretty!11’ and Harry has to “sternly” correct her.)
In PoA, you have the Perfect Girl who's passively chased by Cedric and Harry; and now suddenly she's a ridiculous fool who, significantly, is much more sexually aggressive towards Harry.
Whereas Ginny, of course, has traded places with her, going from the shallow stalker who *tada* is attempting to chase Harry, to suddenly cool and conventiently, disengaged in dating.
Now hopefully if they get together, he'll be able to chase her, the way it should be. Cause god knows, only nasty girls like Pansy or Cho express interest in romance or sex. You know, sluts.
And the treatment of the groups’ skills as a whole is fairly confusing. They go from being unable to perform second year spells, so it’s asserted how much better and advanced Harry is than everyone else, to accomplishing things adults can't, and beating Death Eaters, showing what a fantastic teacher Harry is.
I feel bad for Cho. She seems to “really like” Harry, as a person, and is quite sensitive to his feelings; whereas he doesn’t appear to admire much about her beyond her looks, and is fairly impatient with her.
* He returned to the common room half an hour later…
Ew. I don’t want to know what they did in that half-hour. The whole Harry!Romance plotline grosses me out. Odd, since most fic is far more graphic, and I prefer Harry/Cho to any other possibilities.
I think mostly it’s because he’s not enjoying himself (Really haven’t been convinced of Teh Straightness, either, what with the “burning desire to run”, feeling “paralysed” and “much too close” and as if his brain were “stunned”. Not to mention the increasing closeness, like they’re about to inspect each other’s pores.) because Canon!Harry revolts me out in general, and because JKR can’t seem to write a human, heterosexual relationship without turning it into some kind of Spice Girl meets Victorian style culture-clash Battle of the Sexes.
* Harry…was in a state of shock. Half of him wanted to tell Ron and Hermione what had just happened, but the other half wanted to take the secret with him to the grave.
Christ, you’d think he was date raped.
Especially with the whole tragical reaction, in which he’s “half-hearted”, “numb”, “hoarse” “reluctant (to) grin” and not knowing “whether he’s alright”, speaking “heavily”. Even Harry kissing has to be angsty!
* Hermione took matters out of his hands. 'Is it Cho?' she asked in a businesslike way. 'Did she corner you after the meeting?'
Telling language there - “corner(ing)” like trapping an animal, and Hermione “(taking) matters out of his hands” as if relationships/sex/emotions are solely a female preserve, which men can’t/won’t understand.
And of course, the “business” like manner, as if it’s naturally her business.
* 'Are you that bad at kissing?'
'Dunno,' said Harry, who hadn't considered this, and immediately felt rather worried. 'Maybe I am.'
Hahahaha. Ron cracks me up. Including his mixed reactions of curiousity, amusement, disgust and triumph (to be fair, if I were Hermione, I’d be pretty revolted at that, though, and the “gesture” he makes with his “fist.” Ew. I’m going to picture him as Joey Tribbiani from now on, urging Harry to ‘Go get that beautiful pig! (oink)’
* 'Of course you're not,' said Hermione absently, still scribbling away at her letter.
'How do you know?' said Ron very sharply.
'Because Cho spends half her time crying these days,' said Hermione vaguely. 'She does it at mealtimes, in the loos, all over the place.'
That’s not really evidence that Harry’s not also a bad kisser. But whatever.
How does Hermione know all this, anyway? She and Cho have never, canonically, even spoken (apart from that bit over who’s leader of the DA. Which didn’t provide much information about Cho’s mental state, one would think.)
Neither does Hermione appear to interact much with fellow girls, excepting Ginny, who might tell her that Cho cries in the loos. (I’m wondering if she cries at mealtimes, why Harry doesn’t notice. I mean, that’s going a little beyond self-absorbed…!)
Nor does Hermione appear particularly interested in Cho outside her capacity as Harry’s Love Interest (aw. She really is the author’s insert!), and indeed, even while now discussing their relationship, is ‘vague’ and ‘absent’.
* 'What's that supposed to mean?' said Ron indignantly. 'What sort of person cries while someone's kissing them?'
'Yeah,' said Harry, slightly desperately, 'who does?'
People who have to kiss Harry Potter? Sobbing with remorse no doubt, to quote Maya.
* 'Well, obviously, she's feeling very sad, because of Cedric dying. Then I expect she's feeling confused because she liked Cedric and now she likes Harry, and she can't work out who she likes best. Then she'll be feeling guilty, thinking it's an insult to Cedric's memory to be kissing Harry at all, and she'll be worrying about what everyone else might say about her if she starts going out with Harry. And she probably can't work out what her feelings towards Harry are, anyway, because he was the one who was with Cedric when Cedric died, so that's all very mixed up and painful. Oh, and she's afraid she's going to be thrown off the Ravenclaw Quidditch team because she's been flying so badly.'
A slightly stunned silence greeted the end of this speech.
I’m not surprised!
I think the cherry on the cake is Hermione lecturing the two fliers on Cho’s skills or lackthereof.
I do think Harry is almost frightening in his complete inability to grasp any kind of emotional complexity, and actually wondered whether this was all part of the whole OotP theme of 'Finally Harry shows 1/10th of the damage a realistic character would have after his upbringing and experiences'; but to me, it's too little too late. We've had four books of Harry has suffered almost no ill effects, so to have it all explode now after so much placidity smacks a little of hysteria.
And the whole confusion over 'how girl’s brains work' made me wonder whether he actually had some kind of personality disorder.
I mean, I get not understanding the minute details of Cho's multiple upsets, but he seems not to have noticed she's upset at all (or of course, Ginny's 'real' personality) which is going past 'self-involved' into almost autistic; and doesn't really fit, considering how it's constantly reasserted how very sensitive and thoughtful he also is.
I just wish there was some kind of normal, middle-ground.
We've got the boys who are completely oblivious to everything (and seriously, I've met teenage boys. They're no geniuses, but most of them, you know, can converse with other humans without an interpreter. Gasp! They can even, like women, manipulate. And Rowling can write this - look at Draco. Of course, we could get into Draco's portrayal here, and how he's written as effeminate, thus feminine, thus TEH EVIL...;) and the girls who are expert at analysing behaviour (and yet only seem to utilise this skill in the service of their male friends. I mean, Hermione had plenty of trouble interacting with classmates previously, but when she needs to help Harry, suddenly she's Freud or something.)
Who, as a teenage girl, could give mini-thesises on the psychology and motivations of strangers of either sex?
I mean, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out Cho's feelings, and at 21, I probably could make a guess reasonably similiar to Hermione's, but to be able to verbally voice this, with utmost confidence, having lacked the benefit of the audience and being present during any revealing Cho scenes, at 15?
I guess because girls all think alike, in easy predictable patterns. Hermione can recognise this, much as she recognises Umbridge's EVOL!11 before others, but she doesn't like it, hence the disinterest in actual female friendships.
* 'She was the one who started it,' said Harry. 'I wouldn’tve - she just sort of came at me-’
Wow. There’s an enlightening quote for you. As is:
* ‘I’ll have to (see her again), won't I?' said Harry.
Hermione's words opened up a whole new vista of frightening possibilities. He tried to imagine going somewhere with Cho - Hogsmeade, perhaps - and being alone with her for hours at a time. Of course, she would have been expecting him to ask her out after what had just happened ... the thought made his stomach clench painfully.
* 'What if he doesn't want to ask her?' said Ron, who had been watching Harry with an unusually shrewd expression on his face.
'Don't be silly,' said Hermione vaguely, 'Harry's liked her for ages, haven't you, Harry?'
When Ron and Hermione are discussing Cho with Harry, it is Ron who considers whether Harry wants to ask her out again or not; he can imagine a male existence without women, whereas Hermione cannot.
* …whenever he had imagined a scene involving the two of them it had always featured a Cho who was enjoying herself, as opposed to a Cho who was sobbing uncontrollably into his shoulder.
This book is bringing out my inner fifteen year old (who’s never far away ;) and I’m afraid I gagged a little at the idea of Harry’s imaginings.
* 'Who're you writing the novel to, anyway?' Ron asked Hermione, trying to read the bit of parchment now trailing on the floor.
What on earth does Hermione find to say to Krum? All they’re mentioned to have discussed is, of course, Harry. She doesn’t even appear to converse with her parents that much, or have many hobbies. Is she writing screeds on Umbridge/Voldemort/SPEW or do they actual have something in common? *Gasp* Might she even fancy him? (Oh, surely not!)
* They sat in silence for another twenty minutes…Harry staring into the fire, wishing more than anything that Sirius's head would appear there and give him some advice about girls.
But Sirius knows nothing of girls! He’s married to Remmy-chan!
Heh, sorry, couldn’t resist.
More of the Gryffindors sitting quietly in their common room, ignoring each other.
* 'What does she see in Krum?' Ron demanded.
'Well,' said Harry, considering the matter
BWAHAHA.
* 'I s'pose he's older, isn't he ... and he's an international Quidditch player ...'
'Yeah, but apart from that,' said Ron, sounding aggravated. 'I mean, he's a grouchy git, isn't he?'
Ron, although being boringly jealous, appears to have more faith in Hermione’s taste than Harry - Ron assesses Krum’s personality, whereas Harry assumes Hermione is attracted by Krum’s age and fame.
* Hermione's explanation had made it all seem more complicated rather than easier to understand.
Stupid Cho, having complex motivations and a personality and flaws, rather than being the mute blow up sex doll of previous books and apparently, Harry’s dreams.
Although Hermione’s explanation was pretty lame.
* Cho was accusing him of luring her there under false pretences; she said he had promised her a hundred and fifty Chocolate Frog Cards if she showed up. Harry protested…Cho shouted, 'Cedric gave me loads of Chocolate Frog Cards, look!'
Then she turned into Hermione, who said, 'You did promise her, you know, Harry…I think you'd better give her something else instead…how about your Firebolt?' And Harry was protesting that he could not give Cho his Firebolt, because Umbridge had it, and anyway the whole thing was ridiculous, he'd only come to the DA room to put up Christmas baubles shaped like Dobby's head…
Yikes. Freud would have fun with this one! Emasculation, penis extensions, associations with prostitution and seduction, inadequacy and competiton with Cedric.
However, since I’ve only taken a term of first year Psychology, and failed it with flying colours, the only fact I learnt being that my teacher calls Freud ‘Fraud’; I’ll leave well alone.
Harry’s dreams still crack me up, though.
* …feeling the warm gush of blood...blood was splattering on to the floor... ‘there was blood everywhere…’…‘he's bleeding like mad…’
Every inch of his body was covered in icy sweat; his bed covers were twisted all around him like a strait-jacket; he felt as though a white-hot poker were being applied to his forehead…He clutched his head in his hands; the pain was blinding him ... he rolled right over and vomited over the edge of the mattress…Taking great gulps of air, Harry pushed himself up in bed, willing himself not to throw up again, the pain half-blinding him…The pain in his forehead was subsiding slightly, though he was still sweating and shivering feverishly. He retched again and Ron leapt backwards out of the way…Whether one minute passed or ten, Harry did not know; he simply sat shaking, feeling the pain recede very slowly from his scar…Harry choked, shaking uncontrollably.
Teh Drama!111 This part is quite similar to Detention with Dolores in how it deals with pain and um, gore. I think I’ve expressed my feelings on that, though.
The vomiting somehow reminds me of fanfic. I don’t know why. And I guess that’s a rather chilling insight into the kind of fic I read! Just a very intense, unlovely reaction. Canon usually keeps to a more silent, attractive suffering. But I like Less!Prettily!Heroic!Harry, I think. Again, have already covered a little on whether Harry has less or more ‘Hurt/Comfort’ appeal in OotP.
* He could hear Seamus and Dean muttering but did not care.
And Teh Paranoia!111
Jeez, I’d be muttering if my scary angry roommate suddenly woke me up vomiting and shaking (happens more than you might think! ;) They’re probably worried. And perhaps curious. I’d have thought Harry would be satisfied they’re paying attention.
* McGonagall’s good in an emergency. Says what Harry wants to hear, and asks pertinent questions, like ‘Where does it hurt?’
And poor wickle supportive Ron!
Somehow I am unmoved by Neville running for help, though. (Who is of course, the mysterious “scared voice” - why can’t Harry tell which of his dormmates is talking, anyway? He can tell the difference between identical twins, voice recognition shouldn’t be that hard.)
* …it was a member of the Order he needed now, not someone fussing over him and prescribing useless potions.
Ouch. I suppose that’s a bit of a burn on Pomfrey. God knows why, since she hasn’t even dealt with Harry this book. And I always recall her being fairly helpful to him, anyway.
I shall interpret this as a sexist jibe to women and medicine, as this is my default reaction to…well, everything (I’m great fun at parties! ;)
* All Harry’s ‘Will NO-ONE understand?’ and ‘I’m not CRAZY!11’’s are making me laugh. I want the movie version of this to feature him saying the latter, then running off, legs at all angles, ala Scary Movie.